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Kamal Hassan (Tamil : கமல்ஹாசன்) (born November 7, 1954, in Paramakkudi, Tamil Nadu, India) is a highly acclaimed Indian film actor whose work is mainly based in the Tamil film industry.

Early life

Kamal was born to parents, Srinivasan and Rajalakshmi as the fourth and youngest child. His father gave all three of his sons the suffix of "Haasan" as a sign of his friendship to one Mr. Haasan. Kamal entered the film world as a child actor at the tender age of 6 in the film Kalathur Kannamma and has been associated with the film world since then. Kamal learnt the fine arts in his early years instead of school work. As a teenager, he started working as an assistant choreographer in movies and it was during this time that his long and fruitful association with notable Tamil film director, K. Balachander began.

Acting career

Kamal's acting career spans four decades. He is known in the Indian film industry for his talent and versatility -- he has capably played a diversity of characters in his films. He has appeared in movies made in six languages, including the four major South Indian languages - Telugu,Tamil , Kannada and Malayalam. His other forays were into the North Indian movie industry via Hindi and Bengali films.

He acted in commercialised films for a major portion of his career, but then moved away from the purely commercial ventures. He is also a trained playback singer and sometimes pens the lyrics for the soundtracks of some of his recent films. He is an able performer of the Bharatanatyam dance form. He had assisted in choreography early in his career.

Sixties

Kamal made his screen debut with Kalathur Kannamma at the age of six and it won him the first National Award for Best Child Artist. He followed it with appearances as a child actor in movies that featured MGR, Sivaji Ganesan and Gemini Ganesh.

Seventies

In seventies Kamal entered in to cinema at full swing. During that time he was in Kerala most of the time and act more Malayalam films by great malayalam directors with great stories. He is very much in love with malayalam, kerala and its people. Though he was already introduced as an adult hero in earlier films like Avargal, Aval Oru Thodarkathai, Solla Thaan Ninaikkiren, Maanavan and Kumara Vijayam, it was 16 Vayathinile, with Sridevi that established him as a popular teen idol at the age of 23. Together they acted in 23 films and were a popular acting pair. The following year, he got his break with K. Balachander's Telugu hit Maro Charithra.

He has played a host of characters that include:

• a ventriloquist in Avargal
• a village innocent in 16 Vayathinilae
• a disco jockey in Ilamai Oonjaladugiradhu
• a psychopath serial killer of women in Sigappu Rojakkal
• a buck-toothed villager in Kalyanaraman
• a Middle-Eastern youth with a magical lamp in Alavudheenum Arpudha Vilakkum

Eighties

His first attempt at direction came through an unfortunate turn of events with the demise of director T.N. Baalu during the filming of Sankarlal in 1981. Kamal reached superstardom in 1979 with multiple classics and mass blockbusters which coincided with the decline of MGR/Sivaji era in movies (MGR quit movies in 1977 while Sivaji, nevertheless continued to act till the 90s). Kamal has managed to hold off competition successfully till date by differentiating his films in scripts, roles and get-ups.

In this period, he has played:

• a blind violinist in Raja Paarvai at the age of 27 (first screenplay by Kamal)
• a classical dancer in Saagara Sangamam
• a mentally challenged man who falls in love in Swathi Muthyam
• an undercover cop in Kaaki Sattai
• an underworld don in Nayagan (Leader) at the age of 33 (directed by Mani Ratnam)
• an unemployed youth who chances upon a week of opulence in the silent movie Pushpak
• an honest cop, a dwarf circus clown and a fun-loving mechanic in Apoorva Sagodharargal at the age of 35 (screenplay by Kamal)

Nineties

Kamal's second attempt at direction came through another unfortunate turn of events when the original director Shantanu Sheroey failed to do a good job while filming Chachi 420 in 1997. Inspired by the European style of closer-to-reality docu-dramas, Kamal moved decisively towards making films for select classes in the 90s, isolating some of his ardent fans.

In this period, he has played:

• as quadruplets in the comedy Michael Madhana Kamarajan
• as an old and highly-corrupt mayor in Indiran Chandiran
• a mentally-challenged man in the romance Guna
• a modern youth turned villager in Thevar Magan at the age of 38 (written and produced by Kamal)
• a hapless villager who lost and re-discovers his family in a metropolis in Mahanadhi
• a revolutionary lecturer in Nammavar
• a special police squad officer against terrorism in Kuruthipunal
• a righteous old revolutionary as well as his corrupt son in Indian
• an old au pair nanny in Avvai Shanmugi (an adaptation of the film Mrs. Doubtfire) at the age of 42

Noughts

Kamal's multi-faceted talent came to the fore in off-screen departments like direction, scripting, screenplay, special effects and these reached full bloom in this decade.

Again, he has played diverse roles in this period, which include:

• a Hindu fundamentalist set out to assassinate Mahatma Gandhi, who changes heart after his muslim friend's death in Hey Ram
• as a lisping immigrant from Sri Lanka afflicted by all kinds of phobias in Thenali (an adaptation of the film What About Bob), at the age of 46
• a pair of twins (one of which is a deranged psychopath) in Aalavandhan
• a randy pilot in the comedy caper Panchathanthiram
• a disabled altruist in Anbe Sivam
• a rustic wrongly jailed for the murder of his lover in Virumaandi (directed by Kamal)
• a deaf circus stuntman in Mumbai Express at the age of 51
• as DCP Raghavan, a smart and suave policeman with his "Raghavan instinct" out to trace a serial psychopath killer duo in Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu

Awards

Kamal is a three-time winner of the National Film Award for Best Actor for the films Nayagan, Moondram Pirai, and Indian. He also won the national award for Best Child Actor for his performance in Kalathoor Kannamma. He has also received the best actor award at the Asian Film festivals held in 1983 and 1985 for Saagara Sangamam and Swathi Muthyam respectively. Six of his movies have been sent as India's official entry to the Oscars. Kamal has won the Filmfare awards 18 times. He was awarded the fourth highest recognition given to Indian civilians - the Padmashri in 1990. He was conferred an honorary doctorate by Sathyabama Deemed University, Chennai in 2005.^[1] Kamal haasan has won a total of 171 awards which is more than any other actor in the world living or dead.

Career as a film producer

Owing to his immense popularity in the Indian film industry, Kamal began producing films. He began with Raja Paarvai in 1981. A more recent production was the film Virumaandi in 2004. His privately held production house Raj Kamal Films produced several classics like Apoorva Sagodharargal, Thevar Magan, Kuruthipunal etc. His more recent production ventures include the films Virumaandi and Mumbai Xpress.

His magnum opus, Marudha Naayagam, is a period film set in early 18th century Madurai about a warrior/freedom fighter Yusuf Khan Sahib or Muhammed Yusuf Khan. The film's launch was inaugurated by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. However, the film is yet to be released.

In 2005, he launched a new business unit called Raj Kamal Audio in a drive to corporatise all his film commitments. In 2006, he purchased prime real estate for a state-of-the-art multiplex cinema.

Personal life

Endowed with a fiercely independent spirit, Kamal is a self-professed non-conformist[2] and a follower of Periyar [3] though some of his movies have put forward Communist views (like in Anbe Sivam) as well as exposing fundamentalist Hindutva views (like in Hey Ram). Kamal is the first actor to turn his fan clubs into registered non-profit service organizations. Though born to an affluent Iyengar family, he denied his caste identity.

Filmography

Listed below is the best guesstimate available of Kamal's 240-odd releases till date in at least six regional markets.

• 1960 - Tamil debut
• 1962 - Malayalam debut
• 1977 - Bengali debut
• 1977 - Kannada debut
• 1977 - Telugu debut
• 1977 - Hindi debut

As Actor

2000s

• 2008 - Aran III
• 2008 - Marudha Nayagam (shoot commenced in 1998) (a)(b)(c)
• 2007 - Untitled Film with Saran
• 2007 - Dasavatharam (announced) (ten roles)
• 2006 - Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu songs trailer
• 2005 - Rama Shama Bama (Kannada)
• 2005 - Mumbai Xpress (a) (b) songs trailer
• 2005 - Mumbai Xpress (Hindi) (a) (b) songs
• 2005 - Mumbai Xpress (Telugu) (a) (b) songs
• 2004 - Vasool Raja MBBS songs trailer
• 2004 - Virumaandi (a) (b) (c) songs
• 2004 - Pothuraju (Telugu) (a) (b) (c) songs
• 2003 - Nala Damayanthi (guest) (a) (b) songs
• 2003 - Anbe Sivam (b) songs
• 2002 - Panchathanthiram songs
• 2002 - Pammal K. Sambandam songs
• 2002 - Brahmachari (Telugu) songs
• 2001 - Parthale Paravasam (guest) songs
• 2001 - Paravasam (Telugu) (guest)
• 2001 - Aalavandhan (dual role) (b) - remade in Hindi as Abhay songs
• 2001 - Abhay (Hindi) (dual role) (b) songs
• 2001 - Abhay (Telugu) (dual role) (b) songs
• 2000 - Thenali songs
• 2000 - Thenali (Telugu) songs
• 2000 - Hey Ram (a) (b) (c)
• 2000 - Hey Ram (Hindi) (a) (b) (c) songs

1990s

• 1998 - Kadhalaa Kadhalaa songs
• 1998 - Chachi 420 (Hindi) (a) (b) (c)
• 1997 - Avvai Shanmugi - Remade in Hindi as Chachi 420 songs
• 1996 - Bhamane Satyabhamane (Telugu)
• 1996 - Indian (dual role) - Remade in Hindi as Hindustani songs
• 1996 - Hindustani (Hindi) (dual role) songs
• 1996 - Bharateeyudu (Telugu) (dual role) songs
• 1995 - Kuruthipunal (songless) (a)
• 1995 - Drohi (Telugu) (songless) (a)
• 1995 - Subha Sankalpam (Telugu)
• 1995 - Sathi Leelavathi (a)
• 1994 - Nammavar
• 1994 - Magalir Mattum (guest) (a)
• 1994 - Aadavaallaku Maatram (Telugu) (guest) (a)
• 1994 - Mahanadhi (b) songs
• 1991 - Kalaignan songs
• 1993 - Maharasan (a)
• 1992 - Thevar Magan (a) (b) - Remade in Hindi as Viraasat with Anil Kapoor songs
• 1992 - Kshatriya Putrudu (Telugu) (a)
• 1992 - Singaravelan songs
• 1991 - Guna songs
• 1990 - My Dear Marthandan (guest) songs
• 1990 - Michael Madhana Kamarajan (four roles) (a) songs
• 1990 - Michael Madhana Kamaraju (Telugu) (four roles) (a)
• 1990 - Indran Chandran (dual role) songs

1980s

• 1989 - Indrudu Chandrudu (Telugu)(dual role) - remade in Tamil as Indran Chandran and dubbed in Hindi as Mayor Saab songs
• 1989 - Vetri Vizha songs
• 1989 - Chanakyan (Malayalam)
• 1989 - Apoorva Sagodharargal (triple role) (a) - Dubbed in Telugu and Hindisongs
• 1989 - Appu Raja (Hindi) (triple role) (a)
• 1989 - Apoorva Sahodarulu (Telugu) (triple role) (a)
• 1988 - Unnal Mudiyum Thambi songs
• 1988 - Soora Samharam songs
• 1988 - Daisy (Malayalam)
• 1988 - Sathya (a) songs
• 1988 - Pesum Padam (voiceless)
• 1987 - Pushpak (Hindi) (voiceless)
• 1987 - Pushpaka Vimanam (Telugu) (voiceless)
• 1987 - Pushpaka Vimana (Kannada) (voiceless)
• 1987 - Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupaadu (guest) (a)
• 1987 - Nayakudu (Telugu)
• 1987 - Velu Nayakan (Hindi)
• 1987 - Nayagan - Remade in Telugu and Hindi. Copied in Hindi as Dayavan songs
• 1987 - Per Sollum Pillai
• 1987 - Andarikante Ghanudu (Telugu)
• 1987 - Viratham (Malayalam)
• 1987 - Kadhal Parisu songs
• 1986 - December Pookkal (guest)
• 1986 - Dance Master (Telugu) (dual role) songs
• 1986 - Punnagai Mannan (dual role) songs
• 1986 - Oka Radha Iddaru Krishnulu (Telugu)
• 1986 - Vikram (a) songs
• 1986 - Naanum Oru Thozhilali
• 1986 - Sippikkul Muthu songs
• 1986 - Swathi Muthyam (Telugu) - Remade in Hindi as Eeshwar with Anil Kapoor songs
• 1986 - Manakanakku (guest)
• 1985 - Dekha Pyar Tumhara (Hindi)
• 1985 - Japanil Kalyanaraman (dual role) songs
• 1985 - Mangamma Sabadham
• 1985 - Giraftaar (Hindi)
• 1985 - Saagar (Hindi) songs
• 1985 - Uyarndha Ullam songs
• 1985 - Andha Oru Nimidam songs
• 1985 - Kaakki Sattai songs
• 1985 - Oru Kaidhiyin Diary (dual role) - Remade in Hindi as Aakri Raasta with Amitabh Bachan songs
• 1984 - Karishma (Hindi)
• 1984 - Enakkul Oruvan (dual role) songs
• 1984 - Raj Tilak (Hindi)
• 1984 - Yaadgaar (Hindi)
• 1984 - Ek Nai Paheli (Hindi)
• 1984 - Yeh Desh (Hindi)
• 1987 - Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey (dual role) songs
• 1983 - Benkiyalli Aralida Huvu (Kannada)
• 1983 - Poikkal Kudhirai (guest)
• 1983 - Sadma (Hindi) songs
• 1983 - Salangai Oli songs
• 1983 - Sagara Sangamam (Telugu) songs
• 1983 - Sneha Bandham (Malayalam)
• 1983 - Sattam songs
• 1983 - Uruvangal Maaralam (Guest Role)
• 1983 - Zara Si Zindagi (Hindi)
• 1983 - Vasantha Kokila (Telugu)
• 1982 - Paadagan (Dubbed version of Sanam Teri Kasam and released in mid-90's)
• 1982 - Agni Sakshi (Tamil - Guest role)
• 1982 - Pyara Tarana (Dubbed version of Ninaithale Inikkum and was released in the late 80's)
• 1982 - Pagadai Panirendu
• 1982 - Yeh To Kamaal Ho Gaya (First Dual role in Hindi)(Hindi)Remake of "Sattam En Kayil"
• 1982 - Rani Theni (guest)
• 1982 - Ezham Rathiri (Malayalam)
• 1983 - Sagalakala Vallavan songs
• 1982 - Sanam Teri Kasam (Hindi) songs
• 1982 - Simla Special songs
• 1982 - Moondram Pirai - Remade in Hindi as Sadma songs
• 1982 - Andhi Veyilile (Malayalam)
• 1982 - Andhagadu (Telugu)
• 1982 - Vazhvey Maayam (Malayalam)
• 1982 - Vazhvey Maayam songs
• 1981 - Do Dil Diwane (Dubbed movie)
• 1981 - Ellam Inbamayam
• 1981 - Tick! Tick! Tick! songs
• 1981 - Amavasya Chandrudu (Telugu) (a)
• 1981 - Sankarlal
• 1981 - Savaal
• 1981 - Kadal Meengal songs
• 1981 - Ek Duuje Ke Liye (Hindi) songs
• 1981 - Raja Paarvai (a) songs
• 1981 - Ram Lakshman
• 1981 - Prema Pitchi (Telugu)
• 1981 - Meendum Kokila songs
• 1981 - Aakali Rajyam (Telugu) songs
• 1981 - Thillu Mullu (guest)
• 1980 - Natchathiram (guest)
• 1980 - Maria, My Darling (Tamil) - Remade in Kannada in the same name
• 1980 - Maria, My Darling (Kannada)
• 1980 - Varumayin Niram Sigappu songs
• 1980 - Guru songs
• 1980 - Ullasa Paravaigal songs

1970s

• 1979 - Azhiyadha Kolangal (guest)
• 1979 - Neela Malargal (guest)
• 1979 - Mangala Vaathiyam
• 1979 - Kalyanaraman (Tamil)
• 1979 - Kalyanaraman songs
• 1979 - Idikatha Kaadu (Telugu)
• 1979 - Alavuddinum Athbutha Vilakkum (Telugu)
• 1979 - Alavudheenum Arpudha Vilakkum
• 1979 - Andhamaina Anubavam (Telugu)
• 1979 - Ninaithale Inikkum songs
• 1979 - Thaayillamal Naan Illai songs
• 1979 - Alavudeenum Albutha Velakkum (Malayalam)
• 1979 - Neeya!
• 1979 - Sigappukkal Mookkuthi
• 1979 - Sommokadidhi Sokkadidhi (First Dual role in Telugu)(Telugu) Dubbed into Tamil as "Iru Nilavugal"
• 1978 - Thappu Thalangal (guest)
• 1978 - Thappitha Thala (Telugu) (guest)
• 1978 - Madanolsavam (Malayalam)
• 1978 - Yeetta (Malayalam)
• 1978 - Aval Appadithaan
• 1978 - Manidharil Ithanai Nirangala!
• 1978 - Sigappu Rojakkal songs
• 1978 - Vayanadhan Thamban (Malayalam)
• 1978 - Vayasu Pilichindi (Telugu)
• 1978 - Sattam En Kaiyil (First Dual role in Tamil)songs
• 1978 - Ilamai Oonjaladugiradhu songs
• 1978 - Maro Charithra (Telugu) songs
• 1978 - Nizhal Nijamagiradhu songs
• 1977 - Aadhyapaadham (Malayalam) (guest)
• 1977 - Sathyavaan Saavithri (Malayalam)
• 1977 - Kokila (First movie in Kannada)
• 1977 - Naam Pirandha Man
• 1977 - Aanandham Paramaanandham (Malayalam) (guest)
• 1977 - Aadu Puli Aattam
• 1977 - 16 Vayathinile songs
• 1977 - Oor Magal Marikkumo (Malayalam) (guest)
• 1977 - Nirakudam (Malayalam)
• 1977 - Ashta Maangalyam (Malayalam) (guest)
• 1977 - Kabita (Bengali)
• 1977 - Unnai Sutrum Ulagam
• 1977 - Sridevi (Malayalam)
• 1977 - Madhura Sopnam (Malayalam)
• 1977 - Avargal (guest) songs
• 1977 - Aasirvaadham (Malayalam)
• 1977 - Sivathaandavam (Malayalam)
• 1977 - Uyarndhavargal
• 1976 - Lalitha (guest)
• 1976 - Mogam Muppadhu Varusham
• 1976 - Moondru Mudichu
• 1976 - Nee Ente Lahari (Malayalam)
• 1976 - Ponni (Malayalam)
• 1976 - Idhaya Malar
• 1976 - Kumaara Vijayam
• 1976 - Kuttavum Sitshayum (Malayalam)
• 1976 - Unarchigal (Malayalam)
• 1976 - Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu
• 1976 - Sathiyam
• 1976 - Aruthu (Malayalam) (guest)
• 1976 - Swimming Pool (Malayalam)
• 1976 - Manmadha Leelai songs
• 1976 - Samassiya (Malayalam)
• 1976 - Appoopan (Malayalam)
• 1976 - Agni Pushpam (Malayalam)
• 1975 - Andharangam
• 1975 - Raasaleela (Malayalam)
• 1975 - Mattoru Seetha (Malayalam)
• 1975 - Thiruvonam (Malayalam)
• 1975 - Apoorva Raagangal songs
• 1975 - Maalai Sooda Vaa
• 1975 - Gnan Ninne Premikkunnu (Malayalam)
• 1975 - Pattikkaattu Raja
• 1975 - Thangathile Vairam
• 1975 - Melnaattu Marumagal (Met Vani Ganapathy during the filming of this movie and later married her)
• 1975 - Then Sindhudhe Vaanam
• 1975 - Aayirathil Oruthi
• 1975 - Pattampoochi
• 1975 - Cinema Paithiyam
• 1974 - Panathukkaga
• 1974 - Aaina (Hindi) (uncredited onscreen)
• 1974 - Anthuleni Katha (Telugu) (uncredited onscreen)
• 1974 - Aval Oru Thudarkatha (Malayalam) (uncredited onscreen)
• 1974 - Aval Oru Thodarkathai (uncredited onscreen) songs
• 1974 - Vishnu Vijayam (Malayalam)
• 1974 - Anbu Thangai
• 1974 - Kanyakumari (Malayalam)
• 1974 - Naan Avanillai
• 1974 - Gumasthavin Magal
• 1974 - Paruva Kaalam
• 1973 - Sollathaan Ninaikkiren
• 1973 - Arangetram
• 1972 - Kurathi Magan
• 1970 - Maanavan

1960s

• 1963 - Anandha Jodhi
• 1963 - Vaanampadi songs
• 1962 - Kannum Karalum (Malayalam)
• 1962 - Paadha Kaanikkai songs
• 1962 - Paarthaal Pasi Theerum (First double role ever)(guest) songs
• 1960 - Kalathur Kannamma (Won Best National Award for "Best Child Actor")

As Producer

• Films marked (a) above were produced by Kamal

As Writer

• 1999 - Biwi No.1 (Hindi) songs
• 1997 - Virasat (Hindi) songs
• In addition, films marked (b) above were scripted by Kamal

As Director

• Films marked (c) above were directed by Kamal
• 2000 - Hey Ram
• 2004 - Virumaandi

As Miscellaneous Crew

• 2006 - Pudhu Pettai (playback singer)
• 2004 - Mumbai Xpress (playback singer)
• 2004 - Vasool Raja MBBS (playback singer)
• 2003 - Anbe Sivam (playback singer)
• 2003 - Nala Damayanthi (playback singer)
• 2000 - Hey Ram (choreographer, lyricist and playback singer)
• 1998 - Chachi 420 (playback singer: "Jago Gori") (as Kamal Haasan) *(presenter) (as Kamal Haasan)
• 1996 - Ullasam (playback singer)
• 1996 - Avvai Shanmugi (playback singer)
• 1995 - Sathi Leelavathi (playback singer)
• 1992 - Devar Magan (playback singer)
• 1987 - Nayagan (playback singer)
• 1985 - Oka Radha Iddaru Krishnulu (playback singer)
• 1975 - Andharangam (playback singer)
• 1974 - Aaina (dances)

External links

• Kamal Haasan fan page
• Web Group
• Actor profile
• Kamal Hassan
• Kamal on his journey

References

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